NEW YORK CITY
BIG MOZZ
NYC is main home to the Smorgasburg food festival which operates in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In 2015, Big Mozz came into fruition and began a stand location within the festival. The food vendor serves up some of the best mozzarella sticks you'll ever have!
LInk to website: https://bigmozz.com/
TAO DOWNTOWN
Tao has two locations in NYC, which are called Tao Uptown and Tao Downtown. Downtown contains an enormous dining area with a vibrant bar scene to pair with it. They serve mouth watering Japanese sushi along with tapas and sizable entrees. If you want a fancy night out with loved ones or a friend, this spot is totally worth the price.
Link to website: https://taogroup.com/venues/tao-downtown-new-york/
BEAUTY & ESSEX
Beauty and Essex personally remains one of my favorites in all of NYC. From the outside it looks like a regular music store with guitars on the walls. You would never know the location was a restaurant unless by word of mouth or research. You walk in and go up to the cashier where you state your reservation or desire to dine. They will lead you to the back door, don't worry it's alright, and once you go through it a stunningly beautiful dining room emerges from what seems out of nowhere. Inside you will be able to share some incredible and creative tapas while enjoying a city gem.
Link to website: https://taogroup.com/venues/beauty-essex-new-york/
VIA CAROTA
Situated in NYC's West Village, is an Italian favorite you would regret to miss. Via Carota always has a line out of the door but for good reason. They create Italian classics including cacio e pepe and homemade ravioli. They interior makes you feel as though you're in a trattoria in Italy because it's not too large and there's so much detail within the location. Take your friends and family and grab a glass of wine along with some homemade pasta.
Link to website: https://www.viacarota.com/
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PLAYA BOWLS
Playa Bowls serves tasty smoothie bowls featuring the acai berry base which originates from Brazil. The company comes from true humble beginnings as they started with one location on the boardwalk in Belmar, NJ. This location was a mere food cart and it took the locals by storm. Now, the company is spread out across multiple states with a ton of locations. The bowls really hit the spot on a hot summers day.
Link to website: https://www.playabowls.com/
MAGNOLIA BAKERY
Let me preface this article by saying this stop is so unbelievably great that a friend I know ships their products down to Miami because he misses it so much. Magnolia Bakery makes incredible desserts but none as famous as their banana bread pudding. Talk about a gem! Their pudding is so tasty and creamy. You can never get enough of it. Magnolia has a few locations across the city including one in Grand Central Station on the lower level.
Link to website: https://magnoliabakeryonline.com/
DIG INN
Chain restaurants are more often than not unhealthy and littered with greasy foods. Dig Inn changes this notion with an abundance of smart and healthy options to mix into one bowl. They supply tofu, brown rice, sweet potato, broccoli, kale and much more! Any combination seems to work well together and it will keep you feeling energized for the day rather than sluggish and tired.
Link to website: https://www.diginn.com/
GRIMALDIS
New York is the mecca for pizza places in the United States. In Brooklyn, Grimaldis has been making out of this world pizza since 1990 for hungry locals. The family who started the popular Italian joint, started making pizza over 100 years ago. A trip to Brooklyn from Manhattan to try this delicacy is totally, 100 percent worth it! Try the classic pizza margherita or marinara.
Link to website: https://www.grimaldispizzeria.com/our-family/
THE SMITH
The Smith has multiple locations throughout Manhattan. This restaurant has a modern American cuisine which pretty much fits the needs of everyone who comes. The Midtown location is layered with subway tile to give it a true city feel. It's a terrific spot to bring your friends, have a drink and share some appetizers together
Link to website: https://thesmithrestaurant.com/
CARMINE'S
Do you have a large appetite? Yes? Perfect! Carmine's has two locations, one on 91st street on the west side and the other is in Times Square on 42nd street. They serve family style Italian food including rigatoni bolognese, lasagna and baked ziti. Their large servings are more than ideal for a family or friend gathering. The atmosphere is hustle and bustle yet its such a great place to connect with the ones you love.
Link to website: https://www.carminesnyc.com/
SQUISH MARSHMALLOWS
In the East Village, there's a hip and fun dessert shop called Squish Marshmallows. The idea of the place is to serve all things which revolve around marshmallows. They serve marshmallow squares with different coatings around them such as chocolate, apple pie, s'mores and key lime. The picture shows one on a cone as if it's ice cream. This is a fun place to bring your date or kids.
Link to website: https://squishmarshmallows.com/
230 FIFTH AVE ROOFTOP
A few blocks away from New York Penn Station there's a vibrant and electric atmosphere on the 23rd floor called 230 Fifth Ave Rooftop. The rooftop gives you an unobstructed view of the Empire State Building. There are two different bars up on the main floor. One serves regular drinks and the other serves seasonal drinks. During the winter, the staff sets up heated igloos so you can enjoy your time without being cold.
Link to website: https://www.230-fifth.com/
TRAPIZZINO
In the Lower Eastside, Trapizzino serves Italian classics which are not often served here in America. For example, the suppli is a rice ball look alike which is wildly popular in Roman pizzerias. They have an extensive wine list which is imported from Italy and it pairs so well with the food options. If you're feeling nostalgia from Italy, please go there for lunch and dinner. You will not be disappointed!
Link to website: https://www.trapizzinousa.com/
BLACKBARN
Blackbarn is a couple blocks north of the Flatiron building. This restaurant is a fun and inviting modern American restaurant with an extensive amount of space. When I went I ordered the fried chicken with a side of potato gnocchi and mushrooms. The interior design is really a sight to behold as there's a huge overhang over the main dining room with wooden beams. The design is rustic meets modern in a culmination that is so interesting.
Link to website: https://blackbarnrestaurant.com/
TIPSY SCOOP
Ice cream and booze? Seems like an odd combination yet it goes together so well. Tipsy Scoop is located around Kips Bay on the east side. They infuse alcohol into their ice cream and create some incredibly delicious combinations. You even have to show your ID before you order to ensure that you can even have the ice cream. It's the same concept as a bouncer at a bar. Bring your friends and live it up at this unique spot!
Link to website: https://tipsyscoop.com/
PALMA
Greenwich Village is home to some of NYC's best restaurants. Palma is run by a family from Italy. They serve some of Italy's best dishes to the public. The main dining room has an elegant sunroof along with a calm and relaxing vibe. You are never rushed out of the restaurant as the staff truly wants you to enjoy your experience to the fullest. I went here for my birthday with my family. We all had such a fantastic time!
Link to website: https://www.palmanyc.com/
MALIBU FARM
Originating in Malibu, California, is Malibu Farm which has spread to multiple locations in a few states. Pier 17 is home to an ESPN location. The restaurant is located in the same structure as the sports entertainment powerhouse. They serve savory seafood and provide views of the stunningly beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. They also have creative cocktails to pair with the food.
Link to website: https://www.malibufarm.nyc/
HUNT & FISH CLUB
Times Square is known by the locals as somewhat of a crowded and commercialized place. However, some of the city's best restaurants surround the cluster of ads. The Hunt & Fish Club is a location for what seems like high rollers. A few weeks before my dinner there, Shark Tank's Mr. Wonderful was seen there with friends. Their food comes almost as a family style portion. You will not leave hungry and in fact will leave wondering when you're coming next.
Link to website: https://www.hfcnyc.com/
WILD INK
Inside of the Hudson Yards Mall, multiple floors up is a relatively new restaurant named Wild Ink. They serve some really tasty seafood along with steak and chicken. The interior looks futuristic and the overall vibe is really relaxed. The desserts along with the after dinner drinks are very creative and delicious. I had a matcha green tea Moscow mule and it did not let me down. This is a terrific place for great food and views!
Link to website: https://www.wildinknyc.com/
CHA CHA MATCHA
Cha Cha Matcha is a hip and fun environment with all things basically, you guessed it, matcha based. From matcha pastries to matcha drinks, this place will certainly satisfy your matcha craving. I recommend trying the matcha bread or try a traditional matcha latte for a perfect morning combo.
Link to website: https://chachamatcha.com/
